HEALTH ENCYCLOPEDIA

Hypogonadism

What
Is Hypogonadism?

Hypogonadism occurs when your sex glands produce little or no sex
hormones. The sex glands, also called gonads, are primarily the testes in men and the ovaries in women.
Sex hormones help control secondary sex characteristics, such as breast development
in women, testicular development in men, and pubic hair growth. Sex hormones
also play a role in the menstrual cycle and sperm production.

Hypogonadism may also be known as gonad deficiency. It may be called low serum testosterone or andropause when it happens in males.

Most cases of this disorder respond well to appropriate medical treatment.

What
Are the Types of Hypogonadism?

There two types of hypogonadism are primary and central
hypogonadism.

Primary Hypogonadism

Primary hypogonadism means that you don’t have enough sex
hormones in your body due to a problem in your gonads. Your gonads are still
receiving the message to produce hormones from your brain, but they aren’t able
to produce them.

Central Hypogonadism (Secondary Hypogonadism)

In central hypogonadism, the problem lies in your brain. The
hypothalamus and pituitary gland in your brain, which control your gonads, aren’t
working properly.

What
Are the Causes of Hypogonadism?

The causes of primary hypogonadism include:

autoimmune disorders, such as Addison’s disease
and hypoparathyroidism

You’ll have your estrogen level tested if you’re female. You’ll
have your testosterone level tested if you’re male. These tests are usually drawn
in the morning, which is when your hormone levels are highest. If you’re male,
your doctor may also order a semen analysis to check your sperm count. Hypogonadism
can reduce your sperm count.

Your doctor may order more blood tests to help confirm the
diagnosis of hypogonadism and rule out any underlying causes.

Iron levels can affect your sex hormones. For this reason, your
doctor may test for anemia, or iron deficiency. Your doctor may also wish to
measure your prolactin levels. Prolactin is a hormone that promotes breast
development and breast milk production in women, but it’s present in both
genders. Your doctor may also check your thyroid hormone levels because thyroid
problems can cause symptoms similar to hypogonadism.

Imaging Tests

Imaging tests can also be useful in diagnosis. An ultrasound of the ovaries uses
sound waves to create an image of the ovaries and check for any problems,
including ovarian cysts and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Your
doctor may order MRI scans
or CT scans to check for
tumors in your pituitary gland.

What
Are the Treatments for Hypogonadism?

Treatment for Hypogonadism in Women

Your treatment will involve increasing the amount of female sex
hormones in your body if you’re a woman.

Your first line of treatment will probably be estrogen therapy if
you’ve had a hysterectomy. Either a patch or pill can administer the supplemental
estrogen hormone.

Because increased estrogen levels can increase your risk of
endometrial cancer, you’ll be given a combination of estrogen and progesterone
if women who haven’t had a hysterectomy. Progesterone can lower your risk of
endometrial cancer if you’re taking estrogen.

Other treatments can target specific symptoms. If you’re a woman
and you have a decreased sex drive, you may receive low doses of testosterone. If
you have menstrual irregularities or trouble conceiving, you may receive
injections of the hormone human choriogonadotropin (hCG) or pills containing
FSH to trigger ovulation.

Treatment for Hypogonadism in Men

Testosterone is a male sex hormone. Testosterone replacement
therapy (TRT) is a widely used treatment for hypogonadism in males. You can get
testosterone replacement therapy by:

injection

patch

gel

lozenge

Injections of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone may trigger
puberty or increase your sperm production.

Treatment for Hypogonadism in Men and Women

Treatment for males and females is similar if the hypogonadism is
due to a tumor on the pituitary gland. Treatment may include radiation,
medication, or surgery to shrink or remove the tumor.

What Is the Long-Term Outlook?

According to the Urology
Care Foundation, hypogonadism is a chronic condition that requires lifelong
treatment. Your sex hormone level will probably decrease if you stop treatment.

Seeking support through therapy or support groups can help you
before, during, and after treatment.

Content licensed from:

Written by: Janelle MartelPublished on: Aug 15, 2012on: Nov 19, 2015

This feature is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the care and information received from your health care provider. Please consult a health care professional with any health concerns you may have.